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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1598, 9 December 1920, Page 38

Miss Dorothy Brunton has been making a great hit in Sydney in a revival of “So Long Letty.”

Mr. Harry Musgrove was welcomed by the Federated Picture Showmen’s Association, Sydney, on his return from a tour of America and England. Mr. Musgrove saw no great improvement in the English film industry, and saw little hope of Australia getting many films from England. The English firms had not the money nor the organisation necessary. A film in. .America made ten times the money than a film made in England.

“The Lilac Domino,” a dainty musical play, which ran to close on four years in London, will follow ‘The Girl for the Boy” at the Sydney Tivoli. An important engagement for the play is that of Mr. Jamieson Dodds, who played the lead in London. Miss Rene Maxwell has also been engaged, and her appearance on the musical comedy stage is being eagerly looked forward to. “The Lilac Domino” will be put into rehearsal in Sydney almost immediately. ■ .

Mr. Victor Gouriet, who is an important member in “Th e Girl for the Boy” at the Sydney Tivoli, produced three pantomimes and one original comic opera, La Bal Masque, before he was 21. He was eventually selected to follow, the late Dan Leno in the musical comedy, Orlando Dando, after which he was engaged by the late George Edwardes, with whom he remained for 16 years. Mr. Gouriet has toured in all parts of the world, and has played in 15 theatres in the West End of London. Before returning to Australia under engagement to the Tivoli management,. he concluded a five years’ engagement with Laurillard and Grosssmith at the Gaiety, Shaftesbury, and Prince of Wales theatres, London. At the end of his present engagement he returns to the same management.

The many Australian performers in England that Mr. Ben. J. Fuller met during his recent trip included Harry Linden and Ida Berridge, Tom Armstrong and Mab Howarth, Billy Wells and Eclair sisters, the Martyn Hagen-Lucy Fraser family, W. S. Percy, and Delino. Mr. Percy (he says) does not look a day older, and is as bright and entertaining as ever. He’s doing well. Mr. Armstrong and Miss Howarth hold their own with any of the English and American acts in their particular line The Wells-Eclair combination have an offering—eccentric dancing is the feature of. it —worthy of any theatre in the world. Mr. Fuller would not be surprised if they are again seen in Australia before long. Jack Hagen is with the N. 1 GrossmithLaurillard Co. in the provinces. “Heading for London” is how Mr. Fuller sums up his roseate prospects. Delino has never looked back. Harry Quealy was encountered in New York. He is still smoking fat cigars. “Whenever I see Harry,”

says Mr. Fuller, “I always think — ‘once an actor, always an actor.’ He couldn’t do enough for me.” —Sydney “Theatre.”

Mr. Horace Hunt made his reappearance in pianoforte recital at the Wellington Town Hall on November 23, and created a most favourable impression. Much has happened (commented the “Evening Post”) since he last played here, and much time has passed, troubled years, of which, as a prisoner in Germany, he had his full share. But from the success attending his performance last J evening, it would not appear that they have been sterile years. On the contrary, Mr. Hunt has returned —as; he proved—a stronger and mellower artist than ever lie was before. How much influence his life as a prisoner in Ruhleben has exerted on his art is a matter cf surmise; but he dlearly demonstrated, as his hearers warmly testified, that he is now a very fine player His programme was; a masterpiece of compilation, and mot too long; in fact, it was exactly right in this particular. It opened, with the Saint-Saens version of Bach’s Overture to the 28th Cantata—a majestic piece of its kind and played with flawless technique. It closed with Schumann’s celebrated Carriayal, a work taking a little over 20 riiinutes to play, and one presenting all the difficulties and affording all the scope that any truly able pianist may ask. All through his programme held his hearers’ interest.

Have you bought your Christmas present yet for friends in the Old Country. Send them a copy of the “Sporting - and Dramatic Review” special number, and they will see how we do things in this part of the world. Artistic, original and superb in every detail, you’ll agree, and the best value for your money (Is. 6d.).

“Snowy” Baker’s insurance was limited to £5OOO by the Australian insurance companies for the production of “The Shadow of Lightning Ridge.” Every possible risk that could be imagined in riding, diving, shooting and fighting has been introduced into" the part allotted “Snowy,” and when' the insurance companies read the scenario they maintained that the risks were too great for ordinary cover.

Madame Albani, the once famous singer, has been granted by the British Government a pension of £lOO a year, in. consideration of the recipient’s circumstances. In her sixtyeighth year, Albani is teaching singing in London. During her great career, her wonderful voice has been heard in America, Canada, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, Australia, South Africa, India, and New Zealand.

Another Drury Lane melodrama that has proved a smashing success as a photoplay is Vitagraph’s special production of “The Sporting Duchess” with Alice Joyce in the title role. On

the Lmited confines of the biggest stage in London this drama, which took three men to write it, was hailed as .a spectacle—its thrilling, pulsepounding racing scenes charmed and thrilled hundreds of thousands.

Playgoers will be interested to learn that Jennie Hartley, who appeared with such success in “The Bing Boys on Broadway” and “The Passing Show 0f,.1920,” presented by J .C. Williamson’s Revue Company, will be the principal boy of the J. and N. Tait and Bailey and Grant pantomime, “Sinbad the Sailor,” at King’s Theatre, Melbourne. Her charm and personality, to . say nothing of her attractiveness in face and figure, should make her an ideal pantomime “boy.” Moreover, few artists who have ever visited Australia have been more capable in the art of “putting a song over.”

The programmes for the New Zealand tour of the New South Wales Orchestra hav e been carefully compiled by Mr. Verbrugghen, and operatic music is to figure largely in this year’s programmes, in addition to the best and most attractive of orchestral compositions. In the centres the programmes for three of the concerts will be devoted to gems from grand opera. Important operatic singers have been engaged, and it is hoped to get the co-operation of the local choral societies in order that some of the famous operatic choruses may be included.

Active preparations are in train for the production of Chu Chin Chow at the Tivoli early in December. This mammoth show will be an exact replica of the famous London production. Wondrous and bizarre costumes and accessories have already arrived. During the next few weeks Mr. Frank Cochran, the London producer, in collaboration with Mr. Robert Greig, will be a very busy man preparing for the staging of Chu Chin Chow. Mr. Arthur Styan, who, as Lord Kelham, in Maggie, proves a distinguished quality of acting, has been specially engaged to play Oscar Asche’s big part in the .production.